Arezzo Wave Love Festival

Forty years of emerging music in Arezzo

The Arezzo Wave Love Festival is one of the most important institutions in Italian music. Founded in 1987 in the city of Arezzo, in Tuscany, it is considered the longest-running and most authoritative competition dedicated to new talent in our country. The 2026 event marks the 40th edition, a milestone that confirms the festival's role as a benchmark for emerging bands and artists of all musical genres.

The General States of Rock

Also known as the "General States of Rock," the festival is built on a capillary network of representatives and music professionals present in every Italian region. The journey consists of regional selections and finals held during the spring and summer months in numerous cities across the peninsula, from Piedmont to Veneto, and from Sicily to Emilia-Romagna. At the end of this long journey, the 20 best artists selected nationwide reach the stage of the final held in Arezzo, in the heart of the Tuscan municipality.

A historic launchpad

Over the years, Arezzo Wave has launched and hosted names that have since become protagonists of the Italian scene. Artists who have graced the Arezzo stage include Negramaro, Marlene Kuntz, La Rappresentante di Lista, Quintorigo, Zen Circus, Fast Animals and Slow Kids, and many others. This legacy makes the festival a coveted showcase for anyone taking their first steps in the music world.

New features for the 40th edition

To celebrate its fortieth anniversary, the 2026 edition features several special sections. These include "Attraversando Fossati," a tribute to the great singer-songwriter Ivano Fossati designed to reinterpret his music and poetry, and the Arezzo Wave Music School, dedicated to the city's high school students. Participation in the contest is free and open to bands and soloists of every genre, from rock to singer-songwriter, electronic to folk.

An event rooted in the Arezzo territory

Every autumn, the national final brings the city of Arezzo—the capital of the province of the same name in Tuscany—to life, transforming it for a few days into the capital of emerging Italian music. The event is organized by the FAWI - Fondazione Arezzo Wave Italia, which promotes emerging cultures both in Italy and abroad. More than just a competition, Arezzo Wave is a privileged observatory for new musical trends and an opportunity to discover, live, the artists who will be making headlines in the years to come.